Last Night's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3588, 26 June 1880, Page 2

Last Night's Sitting.

The House resumed at 7.30,

Mr Humhouse advocated abolition of of marine weather reporting, the mines department, and the reduction of honorarium to bare expenses. . Sir William Fox considered additional taxation absolutely necessary. The Property Tax was perhaps the best form this could take; at least he had heard no suggestion of any better form. The effect and meaning of the tax had been most shamefully misrepresented throughout the colony for political purposes. He contended that a large portion of the community were entirely unfitted to be placed on the land. They could not occupy it profitably. He defended his own conduct regarding the initiation and administration of the Public Works policy. Government would have to harcl-n their hearts in enforcing civil service reform. He objected to any tinkering with the education scheme.

Mr Stevens, who is now speaking, stated 'tint he strongly opposed Mr Ormond's proposal to sell pastoral lands in large quantities. He regretted the method Government proposed of cuttiug down the estimates by a lump sum without inquiry; The House should exercise discrimination in reducing the estimates. He defended the Property Tax.

This day. In the House last night Mr Dick said that although the position of the Colony was undoubtedly serious the Government were able, if properly supported, to surmount the difficulties, and place the colony in a prosperous position. They would, howerer, be no parties to a panic, and would take no action in sacrificing the pastoral lands to suit rich men, or of indiscriminate retrenchment. They would not take back their estimates to knock off a quarter of a million. The House must trust them during the recess to carefully consider what reductions could be made in their monstrously overgrown Civil Service. He condemned the present system of local government, and said the policy of the Government was to give more complete local control.

Mr Tawhio complained of lands north of Auckland being taxed to pay interest when no borrowed money had been spent there. A targe army would be required to collect such a tax. He advocated the abolishing of Native Land Courts, and stopping the defence expenditure on the West Coast.

Mr J. T. Fisher read a resolution from his constituents condemning the Property Tax. He approved of Mr Dick's remarks about Civil Service retrenchment.

Mr Speight moved the adjournment, aud the House rose at 12.30.